Bucket device



y 12, 1964 L. URBAN 3,132,757

BUCKET DEVICE Filed Nov. 13, 1962 a0 65 41 2132 32 02 Q1 a1 63 I l v 5 77. I L 3 I Z? x I 13 96 54 y Va 71 67, 16

65\ I I M United States Patent 3,132,757 BUCKET DEVICE Leonard Urban, 900 Craver Place, Tempe, Ariz. Filed Nov. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 236,934 6 Claims. (Cl. 214146) This invention relates to a bucket device for a tractor or other supporting structure and more particularly, to an automatic self-cleaning and load-ejecting bucket device.

The use of a bucket in conjunction with a prime mover or other structure such as a tractor is well known in the art of material handling and has become one of the most widely used means for excavating, transferring, loading, and otherwise manipulating earth and similar substances. Certain substances tend to adhere to buckets of this sort, resulting in an undesirable material build-up within the bucket during use. This build-up is particularly troublesome when the bucket is used for sticky loads such as damp soil, mud, gumbo and the like.

In the past there have been various proposals for providing load carrying buckets with either cleaning or load ejecting devices. These proposed devices are not widely accepted for various reasons. In particular, these devices are usually either a bucket cleaner or a load ejector but are not both a bucket cleaner and a load ejector. Further, known devices are quite often merely supplemental mechanisms that operate only to a limited extent to either clean or eject and do not provide complete interchangeability with presently used standard types of bucket devices. Additionally, the known devices are too complia 3,132,757 Patented May 12., 1964 "ice . The bucket 10 is provided with two bottom pivot brackets cated, cumbersome, fragile and expensive to manufacture I and maintain under the heavy work loading conditions to which they are normally subjected.

It would, therefore, be highly beneficial to the public and a decided advance in the art to provide a load carrying bucket structure which includes a single assembly, i.e. both an automatic bucket cleaner and an automatic load ejector. It would be further advantageous if such a novel device, in addition to being operable to clean and eject, would also be interchangeable with bucket devices presently in use as well as being uncomplicated, eflicient, sturdy and inexpensive to manufacture and maintain.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a load carrying bucket device which is relatively simple, economical, rugged and extremely efiicient.

Another object of this invention is to Provide a selfcontained load carrying bucket device which is both automatically self-cleaning and load ejecting.

It is another object of this invention to provide a load carrying bucket device which is completely interchangeable with standard bucket devices now in use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a load carrying bucket device which will automatically clean and free itself from sticky materials and automatically eject loads carried thereby when the bucket is manipulated in the ordinary manner common to load carrying bucket devices and bucket loaders now in use.

Other specific advantages and novel aspects of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial view of a tractor with the present invention pivotally secured thereto illustrating a typical environment to which the invention is usually subjected.

FIG. 2 is a partial rear view of the invention taken along line 22 of FIG. 3 showing a flexible bucket wall in an unactuated load receiving position. I 4

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken along'line 33 of FIG. 2 showing the beginning of-the actuation of the flexible bucket wall.

- FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken along line 33 12 and two top pivot brackets 13 (only one shown, FIGS. 1 and 2). Each bottom bracket 12 is respectively connected to one of two bucket elevating arms 14 (only one shown) positioned on opposite sides of the tractor 11 and pivotally connected to the tractor by pins 16. Elevation hydraulic cylinders 17 are pivotally connected to the tractor 11 at 18 on opposite sides of the tractor. Each cylinder 17 is adapted to respectively actuate one of two rods 19 that are respectively pivotally connected to the elevation arms 14 at 20. By actuating the cylinders 17 to extend and retract the rods 19 it is readily apparent that the elevation arms 14 will pivot about the pivot 16 and cause the bucket 10 to be raised and lowered. A pair of dumping hydraulic cylinders 25 are pivotally connected to the tractor 11 at 16 on opposite sides of the tractor. Cylinders 25 are respectively adapted to actuate one of two rods 27 which are in turn pivotally connected to a dump link 28. The links 28 are respectively pivotally connected to the elevation arms 14 at 29 and to a bucket dumping rod or arm 30 at 31. The dumping rods 30 are respectively connected to the top pivot brackets 13 of the bucket by pins 32. Upon actuation of the dumping cylinders 25, the links 23 will pivot about the joints 29 and the dumping arms 30 will cause the bucket 10 to be pivoted about the pins 16 in the lower bucket brackets 12 on the elevation arms 14 to cause the bucket 10 to pivot between an up position such as indicated by the broken line (FIG. 1) and'a down position to allow the load to be urged from the bucket by-force of gravity.

The bucket 10 includes generally a bucket frame 40 (FIGS. 2-4) and a flexible backwall assembly 41. The frame 40 is provided with a top 42, a bottom 43, and sides 44, that define a generally rectangular load opening perpendicular to the sides 44 and along a front edge thereof. ,An extraction opening '50 is provided at the back of the bucket 10 between the top 42 and the bottom 43 and between the sides 44 and may be. defined by an edge 51 along the back of the top 42 of the bucket 10, an edge 52 along theback of the bottom 43 of the bucket 10, andinside surfaces 53 of the sides 44. It should .be noted that a shoulder 53 is' provided along each ofthe curved rear portions of the bucket sides 44. The shoulder 53 extends inwardly from outer surfaces 54 of the bucket sides 44 beyond the'respective inner surfaces 53 of the bucket sides 44. The shoulders 53 provide an arcuate retention surface 55 (FIG. 4) along the rear. curved surface of the bucket sides 44 to provide aseat for the flexible back wall-assembly. 41. v j

The flexible back wall assembly 41 as exemplified (FIGS. 1-4) includes generally top and bottom curved center plates 60 and 61 respectively and top and bottom curved edge plates 62 and 63 respectively. The ends of the plates 60-63 are normally seated against the shoulders 53 within the extraction opening 50 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The top edge plate 62 is provided with two pairs I of top edge plate brackets 64 (only one pair shown) that are secured to the plate 62 and pivotally connected to brackets 65 (only one shown) on the top of a bucket 10 by a pin 66. Similarly, the bottom edge plate 63 is pro- I vided with two pairs of bottom edge plate brackets 67 platebrackets 70 (only one shown) that aresecured to the plate 60. This pair of brackets 70 are respectively and pivotally connected to two bottom center plate brackets 71 by pins 72 adjacent abutting edges 73 (FIG. 2) of the top and bottom center plates 60 and 61. The top center plate brackets 70 are respectively pivotally and slidably connected to the paired top edge plate brackets 64 by a pin 74 extending between the paired top edge plate brackets 64 and through a slot 75 that has an enlarged forwardly extending portion 76. It should be noted that the pivotal connection between the top center and top edge brackets 60 and 62 is not adjacent abutting edges 77 of the top plates 60 and 62 but is positioned inwardly therefrom toward the pivotal connection 72 between the center brackets 70 and 71.

Similarly, the bottom center plate brackets 71 are respectively pivotally and slidably connected to the paired bottom edge plate brackets 67 by a pin 80 extending between the paired bottom edge plate brackets 67 and through a slot 81 that has an enlarged forwardly extending portion 81. It should be noted that the pivotal connection between the bottom center and bottom edge brackets 61 and 63 is not adjacent abutting edges 83 of the bottom plates 61 and 63 but is positioned inwardly therefrom toward the pivotal connection 72.

In summary, it should be noted that the plates 60-63 are pivotally connected in series between the top 42 and the bottom 41 of the bucket frame 40 adjacent the edges 51 and 52 of the extraction opening 50 (FIG. 3) by vir tue of the pivotal connecting pins 66, 69, 74 and 80. Further, it should be noted that the top and bottom center plate brackets 70 and 71 are respectively slidably connected to the top and bottom edge brackets 64 and 67 by virtue of the pins 74 and 80 and the slots 75 and 81.

Springs 84 are riveted or otherwise connected to each of'the top and bottom bucket brackets 65 and 68. The springs 84 secured to brackets 65 extend outside the pivot points 66 and under the pins 74. Similarly, the

springs 84 secured to brackets 68 extend outside the pivot points 69 and under the pins 80. The springs 84 are biased to respectively urge the pins 74 and 80 radially outward (FIG. 3) so as to urge the flexible wall assembly 41 into the curved position in engagement with the shoulder 53 along the back curved edge of the sides 44 in the bucket frame 40.

An angle iron 85 is rigidly secured to the dump rods 30 substantially parallel to the plates 69-63 (FIGS. 3 and 4) as indicated in the broken line (FIG. 2). The iron 85 extends parallel to the plates 6063 beyond the center brackets 70 and 71 so that relative movement between the dumping arms 30 and the bucket frame 40 will cause the angle iron 85 to engage the back wall assembly 41 to actuate the assembly (FIGS. 3 and 4) as hereinafter described.

Operation The bucket device 10 is generally operated in the same manner as existing types of buckets; i.e., the bucket frame 40 can be pivoted on the pins 16 on the elevation arm 14 to place the bucket bottom 41 in a horizontal position by actuating the dump cylinder 25 to pivot the dump link clockwise to the broken line position (FIG. 1). The bucket is thereafter lowered and moved into engagement with the material loaded therein by urging the tractor 11 to the left or forward whereupon the bucket frame 44 will engage and receive a load. The bucket can thereafter be moved to another location by moving the tractor 11. The load in the bucket is dumped in the other location by actuating the dump cylinder 25 to thereby pivot the dump link 28 in a counterclockwise direction. Then the, bucket is placed in the dump or down position (FIG. 1) which causes the load therein to fall from. the bucket by force of gravity.

In the event the load carried by the bucket is gummy or sticky there will be a tendency for at least a portion of the load to adhere to the back of the bucket and this portion will not fall from the bucket. Consequently, there tween abutting surfaces 73 thereof.

will be a tendency for the load material to build-up within the bucket. The novel bucket device 10 illustrated herein eliminates this objectionable build-up of material by virtue of its unique dual action of cleaning and ejecting the load during the movement of the bucket frame 41 from the up position to the dump position (FIG. 1).

As the bucket frame 49 is moved from the up position to the dump position (FIG. 1) it should be noted that the dump rods 36 are caused to pivot about the pins 32 toward the back wall assembly 41. The relative movement between the dump rods 30 and back wall assembly 41 during dumping is typical in the art and is utilized in this invention in conjunction with the unique bucket device 10 herein set forth to provide both a bucket cleaning action and a load ejection action.

During the dumping action of the bucket 10, the iron 84 will first engage the back wall assembly 41 adjacent the center pins 72 of brackets 76 and '71. Further continued dumping action of the frame 46 will cause the iron 85 to urge the brackets 70 and 71 inwardly and downwardly (FIG. 3). The brackets 70 and '71 will thereupon move on the pins 74 and 80 by virtue of the freedom of movement provided and by virtue of the enlarged portions 76 and 82 of the slots 75 and 81 respectively.

Inasmuch as any load retained in the bucket will tend to resist any inward movement of the plates and 61 and brackets 70 and 72, these brackets and plates will pivot with respect to each other about the center pin 72 as the iron 85 moves the brackets 70 and 72. This pivotal movement about pin 72 is limited by opposed surfaces 78 and 79 on the brackets 70 and 71 respectively. The plates 60 and 61 are originally in an arcuate position (FIG. 3) against the shoulder 53 by virtue of the radial exertion of the springs 84 on the pins 74 and 80 and by virtue of the load forced into the bucket and against the plates 60 and 61. Also, the plates 60 and 61 and respective brackets 70 and 71 are pivoted about a pin 72 that is spaced from the plates 60 and 61. As a result, the pivotal action of'the brackets 70 and 71 with respect to each other (FIG. 3) will cause the plates 60 and 61 to separate somewhat be- Likewise this will cause the outer edges 77 and 83 of the center plates 60 and 61 to extend over respective abutting edges 77 and 83 of the edge plates 62 and 63 (broken lines FIG. 3). This action causes a cleaning or scraping action between plates 60 and 61 and the respective edge plates 62 and 63.

Further pivotal dumping movement of the bucket frame 40 will cause the iron 85 to move the center plates 60 and 61 further inward and downward (FIG.

. 4) causing the pins 74 and 80 to move therewith and thereby pivoting the edge brackets 64 and 67 and edge plates 62 and 63 about pins 66 and 69 respectively. During this further movement from the broken line position (FIG. 3) to a third position (FIG. 4) the brackets 64 and 67 will be slidably moved with respect to the center brackets 70 and 71 on a path determined by the pins 74 and 80 moving in the slots and 81 respectively. During this movement to the third position (FIGS. 3 and 4) the outer edges of the center plates 60 and 61 will move relative to the edge plates 62 and 63 along a path represented by the arrows (FIG. 4). It should be noted that this path will first provide a scraping or cleaning action between the center plates 60 and 61 and the edge plates 62 and 63 and will be integrated into a movement generally away from the edge plates 62 and 63 to an initial ejection position (FIG. 4) tending to eject any loosened material that might have originally clung to the edge plates 62 and 63.

Further pivotal dumping movement of the frame 40 to the fourth position (broken lines FIG. 4) will cause the back wall assembly 41 to move from the initial ejection position to accentuate the ejecting action of the plates 60 and 61 with respect to the edge plates 62 and 63 and the bucket frame 40. It should be noted that the movement between the third and fourth ejection positions is defined by the pins 74 and 80 moving in the slots 75 and 81 respectively and that the center brackets 70 and 71 will pivot relative to respective edge plate brackets 64 and 67 at points 74 and 80 removed therefrom to cause a greater separation and a prying action between the center plates 60 and 61 and the respective adjacent edge plates 62 and 63. This causes an amplification of the ejection of any material otherwise tending to stick to any of the surfaces within the bucket.

In summary, it should be noted that the pivotal dumping action of the frame 40 will cause the back wall assembly 41 to move from the first seated position against the shoulder 53 (FIG. 3) to the fourth ejection position (broken lines FIG. 4). In moving between these two positions the center plates 60 and 61 will first be caused to move inwardly and pivot on 72 to extend slidably outwardly on edge plates 62 and 67 to provide a scraping or cleaning action between the center plates 60 and 61 and respective edge plates 62 and 63. Thereafter the center plates 60 and 61 will be urged inwardly and downwardly to the third position (FIG. 4) causing the center plates 60 and 61 to separate from the respective edge plates 62 and 63 by pivoting relative thereto on pins 74 and 80 to apply an ejection action to any load previously cleaned or scraped from the back wall assembly 41. Continued movement of the assembly 41 applied an exaggerated ejection action to all of the load material contained within the frame 40 to forcibly urge or eject the load from the bucket 10.

It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, except only insofar as the claims may be so limited, as it will be understood to those skilled in the art that changes may be made without departing from the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A bucket device for a tracer or other supporting structure comprising a bucket frame for carrying a load and having a load opening and an extraction opening therein, said bucket frame being pivotally mounted on the supporting structure for pivotal movement between a load carrying position with the bucket load opening generally upward and a load dumping position with the bucket load opening generally downward, four plates serially positioned in the extraction opening, the outermost of said plates of said series being pivotally connected to said frame, the innermost of said plates of said series being pivotally interconnected for limited pivotal movement and respectively pivotally and slidably connected with the outermost plates, means for pivoting said frame, and means for limiting pivotal movement of said plates with said bucket frame to pivotally and slidably move said plates relative to each other and to said bucket frame to cause said Wall to flex and move said wall toward the load opening.

2. A bucket device for a tractor or other supporting structure comprising a bucket frame for carrying a load and having a load opening and an extraction opening therein, said bucket frame being pivotally mounted on the supporting structure for pivotal movement between a load carrying position with the bucket load opening generally upward and a load dumping position with the bucket load opening generally downward, four plates serially positioned in the extraction opening in concave and generally opposed relation to the load opening, the outermost of said plates of said series being respectively pivotally connected to said frame, the innermost of said plates of said series being pivotally interconnected for limited pivotal movement and respectively pivotally and slidably connected with the outermost plates, means for pivoting said frame, and means for limiting pivotal movement of said plates with said bucket frame to pivotally and slidably move said plates relative to each other and to said bucket frame to cause said wall to move to flex and move toward the load opening.

3. A bucket device for a tractor or other supporting structure comprising a bucket frame for carrying a load and having a load opening and an extraction opening therein, said bucket frame being pivotally mounted on the supporting structure for pivotal movement between a load carrying position with the bucket load opening generally upward and a load dumping position with the bucket load opening generally downward, four plates serially positioned in the extraction opening, brackets serially positioned and respectively secured to said plates on the side of the plates opposite the load opening, the outermost of said brackets of said series of brackets being pivotally connected to the frame at a spaced distance from the respective plates, the innermost of said brackets of said series of brackets being pivotally interconnected for limited pivotal movement and respectively pivotally and slidably connected with the outermost brackets, means for pivoting said frame, and means for limiting pivotal movement of said brackets with said frame to cause said brackets to pivot and slidably pivot to move said brackets inwardly within said frame toward the load opening whereby said plates are caused to pivot and separate rel-ative to each other to clean each other and to eject a load from said frame.

4. A bucket device for a tractor or other supporting structure comprising a bucket frame for carrying a load and having a load opening and an extraction opening therein, said bucket frame being pivotally mounted on the supporting structure for pivotal movement between a load carrying position with the bucket load opening generally upward and a load dumping position 'with the bucket load opening generally downward, four plates serially positioned in the extraction opening in concave and generally opposed relation to the load opening, brackets serially positioned and respectively secured to said plates on the side of the plates opposite the load opening, the outermost of said brackets of said series of brackets being pivotally connected to the frame at a spaced distance from the respective plates, the innermost of said brackets of said series of brackets being pivotally inter-connected for limited pivotal movement and respectively pivotally and slidably connected with the outermost brackets at a spaced distance from the respective plates, means for pivoting said frame, and means for limiting pivotal movement of said innermost brackets with said frame to cause said innermost plates to move toward said load opening beyond said outermost plates whereby said respective inner and outer plates are caused to pivot relative to each other and to slide one on the other through said extraction opening and then to pivot and separate relative to each other and said frame to clean and eject a load from the bucket.

5. A bucket device for a tractor or other supporting structure comprising a bucket frame for carrying a load and having a load opening and an extraction opening therein, said bucket frame being pivotally mounted on the supporting structure for pivotal movement between a load carrying position with the bucket load opening generally upward and a load dumping position with the bucket load opening generally downward, four plates in serially substantially abutting position in the extraction opening in concave and generally opposed relation to the load opening, brackets serially positioned and respectively secured to said plates on the side of the plates opposite the load opening, the outermost of said brackets of said series of brackets being pivotally connected to the frame at a spaced distance from the respective plates, the innermost of said brackets of said series of brackets being pivotally interconnected for limited pivotal movement and respectively pivotally and slidably con-nected B l with the outermost brackets and at a point spaced away from said pivotal connection between said innermost brackets and beyond the abutting edges of the innermost and outermost plates, means for pivoting said frame, and means for limiting pivotal movement of said innermost brackets with said frame to cause said innermost plates to move toward said load opening beyond said outermost plates whereby said respecnive inner and outer plates are caused to pivot relative to each other and to slide one on the other through said extraction opening and then to pivot and separate relative to each other and said frame to clean and eject a load from the bucket.

6. A bucket device for a tractor or other supporting structure comprising :a bucket frame for carrying a load and having a load opening and an extraction opening therein, said bucket time being pivotally mounted on the supporting structure for pivotal movement between a load carrying position with the bucket load opening generally upward and a load dumping position with the bucket load opening generally downward, "four plates serially po- 7 ment and respectively pivotally and slidably connected with the outermost brackets and at a point spaced away from said pivotal connection between said innermost brackets-and beyond the-abutting edges of the innermost and outermost plates, means .for pivoting said irame, and means for limiting pivotal movement of said innermost brackets with said frame against the action of said spring means to cause said innermost plates to move tovvard said load opening beyond said outermost plates whereby said respective inner and outer plates are caused to pivot relative to each other and to slide one on the other through said extraction opening and then to pivot and separate relative to each other and said frame to clean and eject a load from the bucket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Sweden Apr. 13, 1948 

1. A BUCKET DEVICE FOR A TRACER OR OTHER SUPPORTING STRUCTURE COMPRISING A BUCKET FRAME FOR CARRYING A LOAD AND HAVING A LOAD OPENING AND AN EXTRACTION OPENING THEREIN, SAID BUCKET FRAME BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN A LOAD CARRYING POSITION WITH THE BUCKET LOAD OPENING GENERALLY UPWARD AND A LOAD DUMPING POSITION WITH THE BUCKET LOAD OPENING GENERALLY DOWNWARD, FOUR PLATES SERIALLY POSITIONED IN THE EXTRACTION OPENING, THE OUTERMOST OF SAID PLATES OF SAID SERIES BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID FRAME, THE INNERMOST OF SAID PLATES OF SAID SERIES BEING PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTED FOR LIMITED PIVOTAL MOVEMENT AND RESPECTIVELY PIVOTALLY AND SLIDABLY CONNECTED WITH THE OUTERMOST PLATES, MEANS FOR PIVOTING SAID FRAME, AND MEANS FOR LIMITING PIVOTALALLY AND SLIDABLY MOVE SAID PLATES RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER AND TO SAID BUCKET FRAME TO CAUSE SAID WALL TO FLEX AND MOVE SAID WALL TOWARD THE LOAD OPENING. 